Legislation to ensure Voluntary Student Unionism and individual choice threatens the availability of services to the student community.

That is according to CQU Vice-Chancellor Professor John Rickard, who is concerned for the future of student services at campuses including Rockhampton, Mackay, Gladstone and Bundaberg and Emerald.

Professor Rickard said services provided by the CQU Student Association were similar to those provided by city councils – they required universal support.

“Students, like ratepayers, need to support these services so they are available, whether they choose to use them or not,” he said.

Professor Rickard said the services under threat included counseling and advocacy, academic, health and financial advice, sports, clubs and associations and entertainment.

CQU’s concerns gel with those of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. AVCC President Di Yerbury recently predicted that Australia’s university campuses were set for dramatic and harmful change if, as seems likely, the Government’s voluntary student union legislation passes through Parliament.

Professor Yerbury said some change has little point – especially when it falls into the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” category. In this case, the Government is making a big effort to mend something which, in most respects, works very well and provides essential services to students.

She said roponents of VSU – which for many is an article of faith – are also relying on some misconceptions to justify their case, which boils down to an ideological mission rather than one based on the realities and practicalities of campus life.

“Student unions are not unions in a political or industrial sense. Rather, they are associations or guilds, the main function of which is to provide essential services and facilities. These include a variety of food outlets, sporting activities, meeting rooms, child care, various other services, shops and professional outlets, all located and operated to meet students’ needs in a convenient and affordable way.

“Some are operated directly by the student bodies; others are operated under contract by external suppliers. Some of the services also attract non-university consumers. In regional areas the campus may indeed be the only provider of certain important sporting and social facilities for the local community.

“It is true that some political associations as well as a range of other clubs are funded, but political activities involve only a very small amount of the money collected in fees. The entire political spectrum is represented – from the far left to the far right, and all shades in between. To paint them all as hotbeds of anarchy or communism is a jaded caricature.

“Indeed, many a business or political leader has cut his or her teeth working on student organizations – not necessarily political ones, but also those involving the provision of services.

“At my own and other universities first-rate students often compete for the benefit of being president or director of the board of an amenities body. Being responsible for staff members and governing a multi-million dollar services organization is a superb skill-building experience that will serve them in good stead when they embark on their careers.

“Not all university services will dry up under the Government’s proposed new laws. Some student organisations have had contingency plans in place in the event of VSU being rushed through. But enough will be affected for the face of our campuses to change significantly, and for the worst.” ENDS